My Sanctuary of Gratitude

Now that sweet Baby Girl has a new bedroom, she also finally has a schedule that every child deserves. No more moving stuff, no more leaving the house to show it, no more errands during nap time, no more travel to see Dr. Kay or for Mommy's doctor appointments. She has been amazing.

As part of that, her room is the one room in our house that is done. I have loved putting everything away in there, hanging her pictures, and finally having room for a rocking chair. Everything about her room says "this baby is loved." And that's so good for this mommy. At night, our routine for bed is to sing softly to her, rub her back, kiss her little head or her head or her fingers or anything else I can get a hold of......oh my goodness how I love this baby. I try and put her in her bed still awake, as that is the counsel for good sleep habits. Sometimes she's very tired and falls asleep quickly, and as I hold her close, my heart feels so full I am sure it will burst.

I sit there, holding this miracle of a gift, and I think about how LONG we waited for her. I would sit in the empty nursery and sometimes weep, sometimes pray, but mostly I would dream of the baby that would occupy this space.

As I held her tightly last night, I felt overwhelmed with gratitude for a safe and beautiful home that is ours because of my sweet husband's generous work ethic. I know that he (and we) wouldn't be so blessed if it weren't for the man that he is. Both in the work place and the man he chooses to be every day, are a reflection of his deep rooted beliefs in family and his love of God. It isn't something he does, but it is truly who he is.

When Makenna is sleeping, especially through the eyes and eyebrow area, she looks just like Daddy when he is sleeping. My cup runneth over.....and over.....and over. I know that we are blessed on levels and in ways we might not ever see or know. I pray that I might have the eyes to see ALL the ways the Lord blesses my life. That I might always have a thankful heart. I am thankful today, for a brother home, finally, from Iraq. How I love my brother. How thankful I am that he would go and serve, so that Darren might stay home with us (in a sense).

I have a friend, who has tried to have a baby of her own for years now. She's had endometriosis, severely, most of her adult life. She's done the routine of tests and tests, and surgery, and even tried a round of IVF after saving and saving.....only to have it fail. She has one fallopian tube, her left one, that is completely blocked......and she is now 12 weeks pregnant. Out of the blue. Absolutely no medical help. All on her own. Her Dr is calling this "a miracle baby." Yep, another one this year......

The joy of having your own miracle experience, is only slightly better if at all, of watching someone else's miracle experience and getting to be part of it.

So, this is my quest.......to watch, to wait, to "see" with different eyes, the miracles that surround us. I know they are there. I know it. For I have experienced them for myself.